Purple Rain will use music from Prince's back catalogue [Richard E. Aaron/Redferns]

Director Gary Lloyd said of the show: "Prince's music and constant reinvention is legendary, so to get the opportunity to bring that and all his colourful characters to the theatrical stage is a dream.

"There is also a real appetite for live music shows that showcase the musicians as part of the performance. Prince was all about this. Prince was a consummate, theatrical artist, but in our show his music is the star. There will be so much for audiences to enjoy, whether they're fans of musical theatre, Prince or both.

He added: "Purple Rain is a fast-paced, music lover's night out that will tease, surprise and excite audiences in the same way he did."

The show will be put on by Thriller Live producers and tour in 2018 [Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images]

The Purple Rain tour will begin in Bromley at the Churchill Theatre on February 1, 2018, then head to Hull, Manchester, Plymouth, Cheltenham, Birmingham, Blackpool, Edinburgh, Wimbledon, Cardiff, Belfast, and Ipswich.

Producers are also hoping the show will enjoy a run on London's West End.